I grew up in a world defined by chaos, abuse, and dysfunction, in a family gripped by mental illness. For years, I lived with undiagnosed autism, depression, and chronic pain, never knowing that a better life was possible. I was conditioned to survive on a toxic cocktail of perfectionism, workaholism, and self-hatred—perhaps you know this feeling well.
By the time I found my first spiritual teacher, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, I had been chasing success at all costs, trying to keep up with the external pressures of life while deeply disconnected from myself. When I began my journey with mindfulness at 17, I discovered something that changed everything—I learned I was free. But I didn’t understand how to live from that truth in the face of ongoing pain, both physical and emotional. It took me years of pushing, burning out, and feeling like I wasn’t enough before I truly realized that peace, freedom, and sovereignty were available to me all along.